Featured Art Exhibitions and Immersive Curation
I treat the gallery as a stage, not just a room. Here is a glimpse of how I turn spaces into immersive stories where art and audience meet.
This is a photo-performance from my series 'No Longer A Memory', where my mother and I recreate childhood fantasies. For me, curation is about bringing these personal, playful, and powerful stories to life for everyone to experience.
An immersive installation from Archana Hande's 'WEAVING LIGHT'. I believe in transforming spaces. Here, we used light and shadow projected through traditional jacquard loom punch cards to create a magical, shifting landscape that tells a story of craft and technology.
An interactive moment from Clare Arni's 'Southern Stars' exhibition. I love creating shows where visitors are not just viewers but participants. Here, guests could dress up in costumes and become part of a photo studio setup, making their own memories within the exhibition.
Our booth at the Seattle Art Fair, showcasing a curated selection of South Asian artists. Taking these stories to a global stage is a crucial part of my work, connecting diverse artists with new audiences and creating a dialogue across borders.
The energy of an opening night for my solo show, 'No Longer A Memory'. A successful exhibition is also about building a community, bringing people together to talk, reflect, and share in the experience. The gallery truly comes alive with people.
A view of the Jehangir Sabavala exhibition of limited edition serigraphs. My curation also embraces the quiet power of master artists. It's about creating a serene, focused environment that allows the depth and legacy of an artist's work to speak for itself.
A still from Smitha Cariappa's live art performance, 'Seeing is not the same as Looking'. I work with artists across all mediums, including time-based and performance art. These events challenge the traditional gallery format and offer a unique, fleeting experience.
Here I am with curator Joshua Muyiwa during the setup for 'No Longer A Memory'. The curatorial process is a deep collaboration. It involves countless conversations and hands-on work to ensure the artist's vision is realized in the space.
About Featured
When I curate a show at Gallery Sumukha, I do not just hang frames. I look at lighting, flow, and how you move through the space. Whether it is the theatrical setup for a photo-performance or a quiet retrospective for a master artist, the goal is to ensure the art engages you directly. I want the setup to spark questions before you even read the labels.
Curating is an act of translation. My process starts with understanding the narrative core of the artist's work, then building the physical environment that makes that story accessible. I specialize in turning traditional galleries into living, breathing sets.
My Curatorial Approach
- Theatrical Staging: I often bring in props, furniture, and unexpected layouts. For me, a gallery visit should feel like stepping into a film or a memory, not walking through a white-walled corridor.
- Immersive Installations: I prioritize work that breaks the frame. From projecting light through traditional looms to creating interactive zones where visitors can dress up and perform, I look for ways to dissolve the distance between the art and the viewer.
- Dialogue-Driven Shows: I don't just display objects. I curate conversations between artists, mediums, and eras. A retrospective of a master artist like Jehangir Sabavala requires a different, more focused silence than a vibrant, pop-inspired series.
Whether you are an artist looking to realize a complex vision, a collector seeking to display a private collection, or a gallery looking for a new perspective, I approach every project as a unique collaboration. Based in Wilson Garden, I work across Bengaluru to bring these narratives to life, ensuring every detail from the vinyl text on the walls to the final installation layout serves the story.
Cop Shiva
I used to be a policeman, then a schoolteacher. Now, I use my camera and these gallery walls to explore the stories we hide and the roles we play.
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